The Zookeeper's Wife Movie Cast, Plot and Everything to Know

Amy Renner

Last modified: Jun. 12, 2017

The Zookeeper's Wife

Release Date: Friday, March 31, 2017 Theaters

Director: Niki Caro

Starring: Jessica Chastain • Johan Heldenbergh • Daniel Brühl • Michael McElhatton • Iddo Goldberg

PG-13 Drama 2 hrs, 6 m

4.13 / 5.0

69% WILL SEE 31% WON'T SEE

Rent or buy

Plot – What's the story about?

Plot: The real-life story of one working wife and mother who became a hero to hundreds during World War II. In 1939 Poland, Antonina Żabińska (portrayed by two-time Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain) and her husband, Dr. Jan Żabiński (Johan Heldenbergh), have the Warsaw Zoo flourishing under his stewardship and her care. When their country is invaded by the Nazis, Jan and Antonina are stunned – and forced to report to the Reich’s newly appointed chief zoologist, Lutz Heck (Daniel Brühl). To fight back on their own terms, Antonina and Jan covertly begin working with the Resistance – and put into action plans to save lives out of what has become the Warsaw Ghetto, with Antonina putting herself and even her children at great risk.

Drama

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Who stars in The Zookeeper's Wife – Cast List

Jessica Chastain
... Antonina Żabiński

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her, Dreams
J
Johan Heldenbergh
... Dr. Jan Żabiński

Ad Vitam
D
Daniel Brühl
... Lutz Heck

Eden, The Fifth Estate
M
Michael McElhatton
Togo, The Last Duel
I
Iddo Goldberg
The Odyssey, And While We Were Here
G
Goran Kostic
The Hunting Party, The Last Days On Mars
S
Shira Haas
Captain America: Brave New World, A Tale Of Love And Darkness
E
Efrat Dor

Who is making The Zookeeper's Wife – Crew List

A look at The Zookeeper's Wife behind-the-scenes crew and production team. The film's director Niki Caro last helmed The Mother and Mulan. The film's writer Angela Workman last penned Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and Bronte.

Director: Niki Caro
Screenwriter: Angela Workman
Producers: Diane Levin
Michael Tollin
Robbie Tollin
Kim Zubick

Studios: Focus Features
Production Company: Rowe/Miller Productions
Scion Films
Tollin Productions

Production – What we know about the The Zookeeper's Wife

Key Facts

Academy Award nominee Suzie Davies (Mr. Turner) is the production designer on The Zookeeper’s Wife; Andrij Parekh (Show Me a Hero) is the director of photography; and Bina Daigeler (Only Lovers Left Alive) is the film’s costume designer.
Focus Features will release the film domestically; Universal Pictures International has distribution rights to the film in the U.K., France, Germany, Scandinavia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.
Adapted from Diane Ackerman’s nonfiction book of the same name which was based on the diaries of Antonina Żabiński.

Movie Filming Timeline: Production Status Updates

Feb 2017

Completed

Changed The Zookeeper's Wife movie production status. The movie is ready for release.

Jun 2016

Post-Production

Changed the movie production status to Post-Production. The movie is now in the editing and finishing stages.

Oct 2015

Production

Changed the movie production status to Production. Production has begun in the Czech Republic.

Apr 2013

Development

Changed the movie production status to Development. Niki Caro has come aboard to direct the World War II story.

Sep 2010

Announced

Changed the movie production status to Announced. Preparations are underway to start production.

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Additional Information

Parent Rating: PG-13 Parents Strongly Cautioned for thematic elements, disturbing images, violence, brief sexuality, nudity and smoking
Runtime: 2 hrs, 6 m
Tagline: Not available
Also known as: Not available
Language: English

The Zookeeper's Wife Trailers and Clips

Theatrical Trailer

Clip: Jan

Featurette

Clip: Hearts

The Zookeeper's Wife Release Date: When was the film released?

The Zookeeper's Wife was released in nationwide movie theaters on Friday, March 31 , 2017. There were 11 11 other movies released on the same date, including Ghost in the Shell, The Boss Baby and Donnie Darko.